Press deckle assembly



Feb. 6, 1962 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 3,019,479

PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 2l, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet 1Feb. 6, 1962 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 3,019,479

PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 2l, 195'2YFeb. 6, 1962 H. E. ERICKSON ETAI. 3,019,479

PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 2l, 1957 1l Sheets-Sheet 5Feb. 6, 1962 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 3,019,479

PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 2l, 1957Feb. 6, 1962 E ERxcKsoN ETAL 3,019,479

PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 2l, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 5NPV I. .......nlih.HMHHT U m www.. mdb. i@ www QY *Sv www 9% Feb. 6,1962 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 3,019,479

PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 21, 1957 1l Sheets-Sheet 6 H.E. ERICKSON ETAL 3,019,479

PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Feb. 6, 1962 Original FiledMarch 21, 1957 Feb. 6, 1962 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 3,019,479

PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY l1 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed March 21, 1957FIG. I7

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Feb. 6, 1962 Original Filed March 2l, 1957 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 e a 72/5 no Q70 82 82 822 f 670 804 ad o (l 74 `E E5 ,l 862 l 864 870 872 g/zo 8228/0 67 L84@ E '84o l5/6 E 542 w90@ /E 3 PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY OriginalFiled March 2l, 1957 l1 Sheets-Sheet 10 AIA' N .wm Nu www n SQ www E iNR muli. l.. h nu Nm@ MWAHEW Qms QN J L NR .N .K O- h O *mh www www Feb-5, 1962 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 3,019,479

PRESS DECKLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 2l, 1957 l1 Sheets-Sheet 11FIG. 2e

g 3,l9,479 Patented Feb. ti, 1962 Hamid ll. Erickson, Auburn, and NormanE. Nelson, Charles V. Nelson, and Dale L. Schubert, Tacoma, Wash.; saidErickson assigner to said Schubert and said Norman E. Nelson and saidCharles V. Nelson assguors, by mesme assignments, to IndustrialIeveiopment to., Tacoma, Wash., a corporation of Washington A Utriginaiapplication Mar. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 647,589, now Fatent No. 2,989,774,dated .lune 27, 1961. Eis/ideal and this application Sept. 2, 1958, Ser.No. 753,354

3 Claims. (Cl. '1S- 4) A rThis invention relates to mat handlingapparatus and is a division of our prior application Serial No. 647,589,tiled March 21, 1957, now Patent No. 2,989,774, granted .lune 27, 1961.It pertains particularly to apparatus for handling compactable matscomposed of small pieces of lignocellulose.

In the manufacture of hardboard and other composition board products,lignocellulose particles are rst mixed with adhesive and formed intomats by suitable feltinig apparatus. For convenience in handling as wellas for application in a subsequent hot pressing operation, the mats areformed directly upon, or are transferred to, metal caul plates ofsuitable dimensions. The caul plates and superimposed mats then areconveyed to a press loader which loads them into a multi-opening hotpress. There the mats are pressed to the desired density.

Several serious diiculties are inherent in the foregoing sequence ofoperations. In the iirst place, the edges of the mats should be keptuniform so that the edges of the final consolidated products also willbe uniform. This is diiiicult of accomplishment, however, since the matsare several inches thick and composed of loosely piled particles whichmay break away as the mats are being conveyed to the press.

One widely practiced solution to this diiculty has been to make oversizeboards which are trimmed to the stip ulated dimensions. Such a procedureis wasteful, however, for the reason that the trim which comprises fromto 10% of the lignocellulose starting material, having been consolidatedunder the combined influence of heat and pressure, cannot be recycled tothe production of a further quantity of composition board andconventionally is burned. This obviously causes a significant operatingloss.

It also has been proposed that the handling ofthe mats between thefelter and press may be facilitated by prepressing them to a coherent,self-sustaining form. It then is possible to move them into the pressloader, and thence into the press, without substantial loss of theparticles of which they are formed.

This procedure is subject to the disadvantage, however, that even thoughthe mats are prepressed, the edges of the consolidated boards made fromthem are still Y irregular and must be trimmed with attendant loss ofmaterial. Also, it is difficult to introduce the incoherent, loose matsinto a prepress without some of the component particles working theirway beneath the caul plates. Then when pressure is applied the caulplates are dented and eventually made unfit for use.

vention to provide apparatus for handling mats of varying dimensions,the application of which results in the production of prepressed matshaving square, uniform edges at a rate suiliciently high to keep pacewith a high capacity felter. The mats thus produced then are suitablefor loading rapidly into a press loader and thence into a hot press forconsolidation into boards having edges of uniform density which requirelittle trimming. In this manner a very substantial loss of material isvirtually eliminated. l

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this inventionare accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specificationand claims considered together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a schematic View illustrating a press deckle assembly andother units with which the assembly may be employed;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the edge press included in theherein described mat handling apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the edge press of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional View taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a driving unit for conveying work units on theedge press of FIGS. 2 and 3, partly in section; Y

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation, of the drive unit of FIG. 5;

FlG. 7 is a detail view in side elevation of a control unit employed inconjunction with the drive unit of FIGS. 5 and 6, looking in thedirection of line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a plan View of a deckle plate assembly employed in conjunctionwith the edge press of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation of the assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an end View of the deckle plate assembly;

FIGS. 1l and 12 are sectional views taken along lines l1 and 12 of FIG.8;

FIG. 13 is a View in end elevation of a prepress included in the hereindescribed mat handling apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a plan view and FIG. 15 Vis a view in side elevation of adeelde assembly used inyconjunction with deckle plate the prepress ofFIG. 13;

FIGS. 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 are` detail sectional views taken along thecorresponding lines of FIG. 15 and further illustrating the constructionof the deckle assembly of that ligure;

FIG.' 2l is a view in side elevation of a trim saw employedinconjunction with the edge press and prepress of the preceding figure;

FIG. 22 is a view in end elevation of the trim saw of FIG. `2l;

FIG. 23 is a detail plan view, partly in section, of the trim saw ofFl'GS. 21 and 22;

FIG. 24 is a detail view in end elevation of the trim saw of FIGS.21-23, partly in section, along line 24--24 of FIG. 23;

FIGS. 25 and 26 are Vdetail sectional views taken along lines ZS--ZS and26-26 of FIGJ24 and illustrating the construction of a trolley assemblyemployed in the trim saw unit of FIGS. 25-28;

FIG. 27 is a detail view in side elevation ofa deckle assembly employedin the trim saw unit of FIGS. 21-26;

FIG. 28 is a detail sectional View taken along line rszs of FIG. 27.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particularreference to the drawings:

The various operational units employed in carrying 'out the hereindescribed invention are illustrated schematically in FIG. l. A `felterindicated generally at 60 deposits pieces of lignocellulose or othermaterial on metal caul plates until they are built up into mats ofsuitprocessing.

3 able thickness. These mats are conveyed successively out of the felteron a sui-table conveyor at a relatively rapid rate. As they reach theoutfeed end of the conveyor they are impelled forwardly by impellingapparatus 62 until they are located precisely on an infeed jump conveyor64.

The jump conveyor has the function indicated above of dividing therapidly moving mat production `line into two lines which move atrelatively reduced over-all rates. The mats in these two lines then aretransferred to a double edge press d6 having for its `function theprepressing of the leading edges of the mats so that they may be guidedinto a double prepress unit 6d. The latter unit prepresses or compactsthe 'remainingarea of each mat to the desired thickness. y

Whileadjacent mats are being prepressed in units 66, 68 they are actedupon by traveling saws '7d which trim and square oil the trailing edgeof the leading mat and the leading edge of the following mat. Duringthese operations the side edges of the mats may be retained between sidedeckle-s, not illustrated in FIG. l but to be described in connectionwith subsequent figures.

After the mats have been prepressed and trimmed, they are transferred toa second jump conveyor 72 whichreceives mats alternately from the upperand lower units of prepress 68 and loads them into a press loaderconveyor 74. This carries them to an injector which, in turn, deliversthem to the loader of a hot press of suitable design where they areconsolidated to the desired density and thickness.

Thus in the schematic illustration of FIG. 1 there are depicted a numberof work units in various stages of The work unit comprising m-at 76 oncaul plate 7S is just leaving felter 60 and entering the lower unit ofjump conveyor 64. Mat Sil on caul plate 82 is being transferred from theupper unit of conveyor 60 to the upper unit of edge press 66.

Mat 84 on caul'plate S6 is depicted in the process of having its.leading edge prepressed in the lower unit of edge press 66. Mat 88 oncaul plate 9i) is illustrated in position in prepress 68. The trailingedge o-f mat 88 and the leading edge of mat 84 are being trimmed off bythe lower unit of cut-off saws 70. While this is occurring mat 92 oncaul plate 94 is being transferred from the upper unit of prepress 68 tothe upper unit of jump conveyor 72. Finally, mat 96 on caulplate 98 isbeing transferred from the lower unit of jump conveyor 72 into pressloader conveyor 74.

The edge press unit ing means positioned for stationing the leading endof each mat in turn within the operating range of the platen,

and drive means connected to the platen for alternately advancing andretracting it with respect to the mat. This compacts the leading-endthereof to the predetermined thickness. The conveying `means thereuponremoves the mat to the next operating station.- Deckles are provided forconfining the side edges of the mat during this sequence.

The edge press unit indicated generally at 66 in FIG. l, is illustratedin detail in FIGS. 2-12 inclusive of the drawings. It is positionedimmediately downstream from ineed jump conveyor 64 for receiving thework units from the discharge end thereof. Its frame includes theuprights Siti, the horizontal members 312, and the transverse members314.

It also includes upper and lower banks of longitudinally divided,hoorizontal rollers 316 upon Iwhich the work units are pushed from theinfeed jump conveyor and on which they are advanced to communicating,longitudinally divided -bed plates 317. Spaced, parallel deckle platesare located one on each side of the respective sets of rollers forretaining the side edges of the work units, which in connected. Theother end of the spring 1s attached to a 4 the illustrated form of theinvention comprise compressible mats of fibrous particles.

A platen 320 s supported and reinforced by a frame including spaced,parallel, side plates 322, top plate 324 and face plate 326. This frameis pivotally mounted ou arms 32.8, the outer ends of which are pivotedin a selected one of two or more positions of vertical adjustment bypins 33% insertedin openings through the arms and through standards 332extending upwardly from longitudinal frame members 3l2.

Platen 32d comprises an angular metal plate having a removable end strip321 and removable side strips 323 to accommodate mats of varyingdimensions. Platen 329 is formed with a leading section adapted to liehorizontally when the platen is in pressing position and Ia trailingsection which slopes gradually upwardly. Accordingly, when the platen isapplied, it presses the leading end of the mat substmtially ilat, theportion of the mat immediately behind tapering upwardly toward the rear.This avoids fracturing the mat and makes possible introducing it easilyinto subsequent operating units.

The platen assembly is reciprocated between raised and lowered positionsby means of fluid operated cylinders 334. The lower' ends of thesecylinders are pivotally attached to the frame by means of pins 336. Thepiston rods of the cylinders are provided with elevises 338 which areconnected through pins 340 to extensions of the platen frame. j

Hence as the piston rods of cylinders 334 are reciprocated, the platenis moved between the retracted position illustrated in the upper unit ofFIGS. 2 and 3, and the working position illustrated in the lower unitthereof. lt is to be noted that when the platen is `in the latterposition it compresses the mat firmly against the caul plate, whichprojects slightly beyond the apparatus. Hence the irregular leading edgeof the mat vmay be trimmed off as will be described hereinafter.

yTo prevent bending the caul plates in the opening between the twohalves of longitudinally divided bed plate 33.7 when pressure is appliedby the platen, there is provided a sliding plate 342 (FIG. 4) whichmoves in a guideway 344. To the underside of the plate is welded a tab346 which extends through a transverse slot in bed plate 317. The pistonrod of `a cylinder 348 is connected to the tab.

Accordingly, when a pressing operation is to be performed, plate 342 maybe moved across the opening between the divisions of the bed plate,forming a continuous surface on which the caul plate carrying `thecompressible mat is supported, as in the lower prepress unit of FIG. 3.However, when it becomes necessary to move the caul plate off the unit,the plate may be moved out Vof the way, as in the upper prepress unit ofthat ligure.

The work units supported on the longitudinally divided sets ofrollers316 and bed plate 317 .are driven through the apparatus by a driveillustrated particularly in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The drive unit is mountedlon a pair of spaced, parallel tracks .350 extending longitudinally ofthe apparatus beneath the opening between the rollers and ibed platedivisions. Y

A car or trolleyl is mounted for travel back and forth on the tracks. Itcomprises a base plate 352, a pair of spaced side plates 354, and crosspieces 355, 356, 357. Wheels 358 are rotatably mounted on the trolleyand roll on tracks A350.

A resiliently mounted arm 360 is carried by the car for engagement withthe work units. It comprises a pair of spaced, parallel bars pivotallymounted on a shaft 362 carried between side plates 354. The arm isformed with an extension 363 to which one end of coil spring 364 isframe member of the car.

Hence the spring maintains the arm normally in an elevated positionA inwhich its forward end lies in the path of travel of the work units andtherefore can engage the same when the car is driven forwardly. However,when the car is driven towards the rear, the arm is depressed againstthe resilient force of :spring 364 by contact with the under surface ofthe work units. The upper surface of the arm then slides along the undersurface of the work unit on rollers 366 provided for that purpose.

The trolley carrying arm 366 is driven from atsuitable power source suchas the reversible hydraulic motor 370. This motor is fed with fluidunder pressure through lines 372, 374. It is controlled by a two-waydeceleration valve 376 and reversing switches 378, 379. The latterswitches are mounted on tracks 35d at the extreme limits of travel ofthe trolley and are operated by spring pressed contact arms 33), 381.

Motor 370 is coupled through gear box 332 to drive shaft'384. Thisshafty is rotatably mounted across the infeed end of tracks 35i) inbearings 336. A sprocket 338 is keyed to the shaft.` A discontinuouschain 390 engages the sprocket and extends the length of the drive unit.The other end of this chain is supported by a sprocket 392 keyed toidler shaft 394 journaled in bearings 396. The ends of chain 390 arebolted to trolley cross plates 355, 356.

As has been indicated above, the reciprocative move-` ment of thetrolley is controlled by the combined action of deceleration valve 376,which reduces the flow of oil through motor 37d and limit switches 378,379 which reverse the motor. The stem of deceleration valve 376 isactuated by a cam 41W which is fast to a rock shaft 462.

A crank arm 404 is keyed at about its midpoint to the Stationary decklesection 418 is provided with slotted flange 422 secured to slottedupright frame member 424 by bolts 426. The stationary deckle sectionalso carries a vertical flange 428 which is bolted to the slottedupright frame member `430. Vertical frame member 430 is secured toadjacent frame members of the unit by means of bolts 432. v

The infeed end of movable deckle 420 is supported by the outfeed end ofstationary deckle 418 and the outfeed end of the movable deckle issupported adjustably on post 3l@ in a manner to be described below.Hence the entire deckle assembly is mounted on the frame of the unitadjustably in a vertical direction as required to position the deckleplate properly for confining the side edge of the work unit.

The infeed end of movable deckle section 420 is hinged to the outfeedend of stationary deckle sections 418 to permit the outfeed end of theformer deckle section vto be swung outwardly, in gate-like fashion, byan amount suiiicient to separate the deckle section from the Work unitsafter operation of platen 320.

To this end the deckle section is provided with the longitudinallyextending, horizontal ange 434, foot plate 436, and wear plate 438. Pad440 is mounted on the infeed end of flange 434. Pad 442 is mounted onthe corresponding end of foot plate 436. Post 444, which `acts as ahinge pin, is Welded to pads 440, 442; and also to Harige 434.Encircling post 444 is a stationary sleeve 446 same shaft. The ends ofcrank arm 404 are connected through links 435 to cranks 408. The latterin turn are rigid to rock shafts dit) to which iiugers 42t2 are Xed.

Fingers 412 are maintained in a normally raised position wherein theylie in the terminal path of travel of the trolley by means of a spring414 which interconnects a frame member and an extension of one of cranks408. The extent of such elevation of the fingers is limited by stop 416.Hence as the trolley moves back and forth on tracks i) it alternatelycontacts the forward and rearward lingers 412, depressing them andoperating the lever system to advance cam 401i against the stem of valve376, thereby operating the valve and decelerating the trolley.

At the beginning of the cycle of operation of the edge press unit, thetrolley bearing arm '560 is stationed at the extreme infeed end of theunit with the arm in its elevated position. The conveyor drive of thepreviously described infeed jump conveyor is operated to push the workunits onto rollers 3io and bed plate 317. As the work units traverse thearm, they depress it against the tension of spring 364. Then when thework units have passed completely over the arm, it springs upwardly intooperating position.

After the work unit has been pressed by the action of platen 320, motor370 drives chain 39) in a forward direction, moving the trolley bearingupraised arm 345@ forwardly and pushing the work unit oi the edge pressonto the next operating unit. As the trolley reaches the end of itsforward travel, it contacts successively forward iinger 412 and switch378, whereupon its movement is decelerated and then reversed,Whereuponit returns to its starting position ready for the introductionof another work unit into the edge press.

As has been indicated above, the presently described edge press isprovided with deckle plates having fortheir function conning the sideedges of the work units introduced into the edge press so that they willbe defined uniformly and sharply. Stationary deckle sections M8 areprovided at the infeed end of the edge press. Deckle sections 420 whichmove both upwardly and outwardly are provided at the outfeed end of thepress to separate them from the work units after the'operation of platen32), thereby permitting their progression through the edge press. Theconstruction of the deckle assembly on one side of the press isillustrated in FIGS. 812 inclusive.

which is rigidly connected to frame member 430 by plate 443. In thismanner the inner end of movable deckle section 42d is hingedly connectedto the fixed deckle section.`

The outfeed end of movable deckle section 42th is supported by a iixedcollar 45h clamped to post 3io.

A pair of spaced rotatable collars 452 are also mounted on the post, thelower collar of this pair bearing against lined collar 43th Collars 452are formed with horizontal extensions whichare interconnected by a webmember 453 and which mounts a fixed pin 454. A sleeve 456 is rotatablymounted on this pin. It supports a bracket 453.

Horizontal plates `459, 464B are welded to the opposite sides of theinner end of the bracket and a. sleeve 462 is `fined between theseplates and the bracket. 464 which serves as a hinge pin is journaled inthe sleeve. The lower end of the post is fixed in a socket 456 which iswelded to foot flange 436. The upper end of the post penetrates anopening inilange 434 and a registering opening in pad 463 weldedthereto, thus forming a hinge uponwhich the outer end of deckle section42d turns.

Angular movement of the deckle section is obtained by the action of ashort stroke, iinid'operated cylinder 470, ri`he rear end of thiscylinder is connected pivotally to a tab 472 welded to collar 450 whichis clamped to post 31d. Its piston rod is connected through a pin andclevis 475 to an extension of plate 460.

Thus as the piston rod of cylinder 478 moves in and out, the outerendsof deckle plate sections 42) swing ing crank proiection of radialflange 494 which is rigid to a hollow shaft 496. This shaft is rotatablymounted about a horizontal rod 498 from which it is spaced by `suitablespacing elements. The respective ends of rod 498 are supported bybrackets 590 having at right angles to the body thereof perforatedprojections which encircle posts 444, 452 respectively. i

A `post i The infeed end of hollow shaft 496 carries arigidlylfixedradial ange 502 which corresponds to flange 494 on the outfeed end ofthe shaft. Both of flanges 4%, 502 have inwardly extending yokes S04.The yokes in turn engage pins 566 extending transversely between spacedvertical plates 503 running between horizontal liiange 434 and foot 438on the outer face of deckleV section 420. Accordingly, as piston 1'od486of cylinder 480 is extended and retracted by predetermined strokes,hollow shaft 496 is rocked back and `forth about rod 498. This movesyokes 594 angularly which in turn imparts a vertically reciprocating'movement to deckle plate sec- Vtion 420.

The operation of the edge press unit whereby the leading edges of thework units are prepressed to a predetermined thickness is as follows:

The work units comprising, for example, lignocellulose mats. carried onmetal caul plates, are introduced alternately to the upper and lowerunits of the edge Vpress `66 by the impelling elements of the infeedjump conveyor 64. Plate 342 covers the opening. between divided bedplate sections 317, and the outfeed deelde sections 420 are shiftedinwardly and downwardly to restrain the side edges of the mat.

Cylinders 334 then are retracted, lowering angled press platen 320 intoengagement with the leading edge of the mat and pressing it to thecontour apparent in FlG. 2. While the leading edge of the mat is thuscompressed, it maybe squared off by the operation of trimming saws aswill be Vconsidered hereinbelow.

After the pressing operation has been completed,

vcylinders 334 are extended to elevate the press platen.

Cylinders 470 are'retracted to swing the outfeed deckle sections 42uabout posts 444 and thus separate them laterally from the consolidatedmat.

carried by horizontal hollow shafts 496. This rotates the shafts,elevating the yokes 56M and hence the deckle sections until the footplates thereon clear the work units against which lthey bear during thepressing cycle.

Cylinder 34S is retracted, withdrawing plate 34e-2 from acrosstheopening between the two sections of bed plate 317. The trolley bearingpushing arms 360 then is advanced by the operation of hydraulic rnotor37h. There,- upon the arms push the Work into the next unit of theherein described apparatus, i.e. the prepress, after which the trolleyis withdrawn preliminary to introduction of `vanother work unit into theedge press.

The prepress unit Upright strain rods 526 extend upwardly from the'platen. They carry spaced horizontal frameworks 528, 530.

Lower horizontal framework 53d supports a Vpair of single actingcylinders 532 which are connected to a source of fluid under pressurethrough conduits S34. The piston rods or rams 536 of these cylinders areconnected to a supporting frame 538 which carries lthe upper platen 54%)of the lower press unit. This platen is titt'ed with removable strips541 which may be used when large mats are being pressed.

A double acting cylinder 542 cooperates with single acting cylinders532. It is connected to a source of uid under pressure by means ofconduits 54s, 545. Its piston rod 546 is connected to frame 53S carryingplaten 540.

Cylinders 48d areV extended, working the crank projections on flanges494+v Single acting cylinder 532 assisted by double acting cylinder 542jointly advance the platen toward the work. However,` the platen isretracted by sole operation of cylinder 542 which lifts the platentogether with rams 536 of the-single acting cylinders. This permitsapplication of relativelyv inexpensive single acting cylinders whilestill retaining effective operation of the unit.

Deckle plates 55th are included in the pressing assembly `for retainingthe side edges of the workduring the pressing operation. These units areconnected to sleeves 552 which are slidably mounted on post 526 in amanner to be explained hereinafter.

-FrameSEit carries the lower platen 554 of the upper pressing unit ofthe prepress. This unit includes single acting cylinders 556 mounted inframe 528. These cylinders correspond in construction and function tocylinders 532 of the lower unit. They are supplied with lluid throughlines 55S. Their rams 56d are connected to a supporting frame 62 whichcarries the upper platen 564 of the upper unit. This platen carriesremovable edge strips '56S which, like strips 541 on platen 549, areused when pressing mats of large area.

A double acting cylinder S66 is also mounted in frame 530. it issupplied with uid under pressure through lines 568, 569.

frame 562.

This cylinder is analogous to double -acting cylinder 542 of the lowerunit in that it cooperates with the single acting cylinders 556 inadvancing platen 56e into contact with. the work. Furthermore, itretracts the platen and associated framework as well as rams 560 of thesingle acting cylinders after the pressing operation has been completed.

Spaced, parallel deckles 572 are mounted on each side of the apparatusfor retaining the side edges of the work during operation `of theprepress. These deckles are connected to sleeves 574 which, like sleeves552, slide on posts 526. Their construction and manner of functioningare illustrated in FlGS. 14-20 inclusive.

Each of the deckles, `for example, one of deckles 55d mounted on platen524, is supported `on spaced posts S86 which are threaded into theplaten (FIG. 19). A pair of leve-r arms 582 is connected to each post-by means of pinSS. l

A crank arm 584 is pivotally connected to leversSSZ by means of pin`556. The crank arm in turn is rigid to the end of a'horizontal, hollowshaft 53S. A lever 590 is pivotally connected to the intermediatesection of crank 584 by means of pin 592. This lever is rigid to one endof a 'bar or box girder 594. The end segments of the box lgirder areformed with transverse openings which cornmunicatewith sleeves 596extending inwardly `from one face of the box girder (FIG. 17). l

Extending outwardly from the opposite face of the box girder aresupporting tabs 598 (B1G. 15). These support a rigidly mounted rod 6%which carries a pair of bearings 602 mounting the horizontal, hollowshaft 664.

Spaced pairs of ears 666 are fixed to `the upper surface of the shaft6M. Each of these is pivotally connected by pin 60S to link 61? (FIG.17) in Ia selected position of lateral adjustment as determined by thepresence or absense of area strips'Sfl, 565 on platens 540, 564. The

link member in turn is pivotally connected through pin 612 to a pistonor plunger 614 slidably mounted in the ltransverse opening in the boxgirder i594, and communieating sleeve 596, bushings 6l6 land 618 beingincluded in the assembly for the usual purpose.

Plonger 614 is connected to and supports deckle 550. Its inner endterminates in a square plate 620 whichY is bolted to a longitudinallyextending plate V622. The latter plate is releasably secured to thedeckle by bolts 623 and has a horizontal flange or foot `624 along itslower margin. This supports wear plate 626 which contacts the kadjacentmargin `of the work unit supported on platen 524. The frameworkdescribed above supports not only lts piston rod k. 57? is `attached tol deckle 55@ but also the drives Iby means of which the deckle isreciprocated in both horizontal and vertical planes. lts reciprocationin a horizontal plane is effectuated by operation of a cylinder 636(FIG. 16), the forward end of which is pivotally mounted on shaft 632journaled in bearings 634. These bearings in turn are bolted to spacedstandards 636 braced with plate 638.

The piston rodf of cylinder 63! is pivotally connected through p-in 64@to crank` 642 which is rigid to hollow shaft 604. Accordingly extensionand retraction of the piston rod of cylinder 636 moves plungers 614, andhence deckle plate 559, outwardly and inwardly, respectively, withrespect to the work on platen 524.

Vertical reciprocation of the platen is obtained by operation ofcylinder 650 (FIG. 18). This cylinder is pivotally mounted on shaft 652journaled in bearings 654. These beatings are bolted to brackets 656which are welded to the outer face of box girder 594.

Accordingly extension and retraction of the piston rod of cylinder 656rotates shaft 58S clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. Thiselevates and lowers, respec-` tively, the entire assembly includinghollow shaft 588, ho1- low shaft 694, box girder 594, plungers 614, anddeckle plate 550, sleeves S52 sliding up and down on posts`526.

The overall operation of the prepress is as follows:

The work is impelled alternately onto the upper and lower decks of theprepress by the impelling mechanism of edge press 66, deckle plates 550,572 being elevated and retracted. When the work has been located on thelower platen, eg. lower platen 524 of the lower deck, deckle 559 islowered and advanced. The upper press platen 540 then is lowered by thecombined action of the single and double acting cylinders 532, 542connected thereto. While the work is confined by the press, its trailingedge may be trimmed by suitable apparatus to be described hereinbelow.The platen then is raised by the sole action of double acting cylinder542, the side deckles are retracted, and the work removed from theprepress for further processing.

The trim saw unit- As has been indicated above, while the leading mat isconfined in prepress 63 and the trailing mat in edge press 66, thetrailing7 edge of the` former `and the leading edge or" the latter maybe squared off and trimmed by suitable apparatus. Such apparatuscomprises a'traveling saw assembly indicated generally at 76 in PEG. land illustrated `in detail in FGS. 21-28 inclusive.

Like the edge press and prepress, the saw assembly includes cooperatingupper and lower decks. Each deck includes a track mounted `across thework, a trolley mounted for reciprocation on the track, and spaced sawsmounted on the trolley. Drive means are providedfor reciprocating thetrolley on the track as well as for lowering the saws into operativeposition and raising them into inoperative position. Deckle platesprovided with means for both elevating them and retracting them confinethe side edges of the work as it traverses the trim saw unit.

The saw and deelde asemblies aremounted on a frame which includesupright posts 676 (FIGS. 2l, 22). Posts 67) support an upper saw unit672 illustrated with the `saw in retracted, inoperative position, anupper deckle assembly 674 illustrated with the deckles in raisedoperative position, a lower saw assembly 676 illustrated with the saw inadvanced, operative position, and a lower deckle assembly 67Sillustrated with the deekles in lowered, inoperative position.

The upper and lower Vsaw assemblies are substantially identical inconstruction. Each is mounted on a framework including sleeves 680clamped to posts 670, longitudinal side plates 682, transverse sideplates 684, top plate 686, bracket-68S, tie plates 690, and angle irons692. A pair of parallel, horizontal tracks 694 are welded to the innerbottom margins of side plates 684 (FIGS.

25, 26). A pair of parallel horizontal chain guideways 696 are welded toangle irons 692.

Tracks 694 mount a trolley which reciprocates back and forth across theunit `and carries the trim saws. The trolley includes a centrallycut-away horizontal plate 'Hill which carries on its upper surface apair of spaced blocks 702 and on its under surface cross bars '764, 706as well as chain guides 708.

Shafts 7H) are journaled in bearings 712 mounted on the forward andrearward ends of plate '706 respectively. Grooved wheels 714 are fixedto the ends of the shafts and track on the upper surfaces of tracks 694.

Shafts 716 are journaled in bearings 718 bolted through filler blocks729 to the underside of plate 706 at'the respective ends thereof. Flatwheels 722 are secured to the ends of the shaft and track on the undersurfaces of tracks 794. Spaced grooved wheels 724 are xed to shaft 716inside bearings-718.

The trolley is driven by motor 726 bolted to frame plate 632 (FIGS. 23,24). The shaft of the motor is coupled to a. gear box 728 to the shaftsof which are keyed sprockets 730. An idler shaft 732 is journaled inbearings 734 at the side of the unit opposite sprockets 730. This shaftcarries sprockets 736 which, together with sprockets '739, engage andsupport a pair of parallel, discontinuous, drive chains 738. Therespective ends of these chains carry threaded extensions 749. Theseextensions on the forward end of the trolley are slidable in openingsthrough cross bar 704 of the trolley frame. The same members on the rearend of the trolley are slidable in openings through cross bar 766 of thetrolley frame. Each of the extensions is threaded into `a nut 742, whichmay be adjusted as required to tighten the chains.

The upper stretches of chains 733 are supported by longitudinal chainguides 696. The lower stretches of the chains are supported by the uppersurface of parallel, longitudinal bars 744 the ends of which areconnected to the frame of the unit. The under surfaces of these bars arereceived and supported by grooved wheels 724, thus insuring adequatesupport for the chains.

The saw unit which depends from the above described trolley is supportedin part from a block 750 aixed to the under side of plate 700 andextending downwardly therefrom. A sleeve 752 is rigidly aflixed to thelower end of this block. A shaft 754 is journaled in the sleeve.

The inner ends of a pair of spaced side plates 756 are xed 'to therespective ends of shaft 754. An end plate 758 spans and is connected tothe two side plates, forming a housing for the saw drive.

The outer ends of side plates 756 mount bearings 766 in which isjournaled a shaft 762 (FIG. 21). Circular saws 764 are fixed to theouter ends of this shaft, and spaced pulleys 766 are keyed to theintermediate portion thereof inside of bearings 760.

Saws 764 are driven from a motor 770 mounted on the saw frame. The shaft772 of this motor carries pulleys 774 which are connected through belts776 to pulleys 766 on the saw shaft.

The saws are lowered and raised between operative and inoperativepositions by a cylinder 780, the flat base of which is connected to ashort, transverse shaft 782. This shaft is journaled in bearings 784mounted onblocks 702 which in turn are carried on plate 706 on the sawtrolley. The piston rod of cylinder 780 is fixed to a shaft '786 whichis pivotally mounted in bearings 788 aixed to the saw frame`Accordingly, extension of cylinder 780 lowers saw 764 to the operativepositionV of the lower unit of FIG. 22 while retraction thereof raisesthe saws to the inoperative position of the upper unit of that ligure.

As has been indicated above, the upper and lower decks of the hereindescribed trim saw are provided wit deckle plate assemblies 674, 678.These are substantially l l identical in function and their constructionis illustrated particularly in FIGS. 21, 22, 27 and 28.

Thus each deckle unit is mounted on a frame comprising sleeves 800clamped to posts 670, side plates 802, end plates 804, and cross pieces806. End plates 804 mount tracks 808 which support the work as ittraverses the unit.

The decirle plates areV mounted ou this frame in such a manner that theymay be `lifted and retracted until they clear the work completelyend lieflat, out of the way of trim saws 764. Accordingly each plate issupported on a rod Slt? fixed between side plates 804 (FIGS. 27 and 28).Rotatably mounted on this rod is a hollow,

horizontal shaft 812. Rigidly mounted on the latter shaft by means offiller blocks 8f4 are spaced vertical sleeves 816.

Mounted for longitudinal 'movement in these sleeves are rods 818 towhich deckle plate 820 is connected by means of the horizontal brackets822. The lower edge of the deckle plate is formed with a horizontal footflange 824 which carries a wear plate 826.

The lower ends of rods 81S mount a horizontal bar 828. The outer ends ofthe bar carry tabs 830 which support shafts 832 on which cam follows 834are rotatably mounted. The cam followers work in the slots of cam plates836 bolted to the inner faces of the side frame plates 804. The slots inthe cam plates are downwardly arcuate, communicating however, withsubstantially horizontal recesses at their inner ends.

The deckle plate assembly is driven by means of a cylinder 840, the rearend of which is pivotally connected through pin 842 to bearings 844carried by the frame of the unit. The piston rod of the cylinder isconnected to a short shaft 846 journaled between bearings 848 extendingoutwardly from the side face of transverse bar 82S.

Accordingly, extension of cylinder S40 raises, retracts and lowers thedeckle in the manner illustrated by the dotted line positions of FlG.28, until it rests in a substantially horizontal position, out of theway of the trim saws. Retraction of the cylinder initiates a reversesequence, and returns the deckle to a vertical position ready to receivethe work.

It will be apparent that as trim saws 764 trim off the adjacent edges ofleading and following mats, there is formed a quantity of `wastematerial which must be conducted away from the apparatus. The wastematerial formed by operation of the upper saws is fanned by fans 864rigid to the saws and guided by plows 866 Welded to the frame intoconduit 868 which is pivotally connected to the plows by pin 870.Conduit 868 in turn is connected to flexible conduit 872 which conveysthe waste by vacuum back to the bin from which the felter is fed.

Any overflow from this collecting system is caught in a trough 850supported between side plates S64. This trough has downwardly slopingsides and communicates with a spout 852.

- An auger 854 mounted on shaft 856 supported by bearings 858 works inthe bottom of the trough. Shaft 856 is coupled to the shaft of a gearbox 860 which in turn is connected to a motor 852. Accordingly operationof the motor drives auger 854 which carries the trimmed away materialout from beneath the unit into downspout 852, whence it may be returnedto the source feeding felter 6ft.

A vacuum collector similar to that used in the upper saw unit, and atrough similar to trough 850 thereof may be provided beneath the lowersaw unit or, instead of using a trough the entire apparatus may bemounted over a pit, not illustrated, in which runs a conveyor positionedfor receiving the trim. This collector and conveyor also may return thetrimmed away material to felter 60.

f The basic operation of trim saw 79 is as follows: The mat-caul platework units are run through the unit with the deckles raised and the footflanges thereof bearing i2 against the caul plates. When one Werl: unithas been stationed in prepress 68 and another in edge press 66, thepressing members of these presses are operated for consolidating themats. Before or during the operation, declrle plates 826 of the trim saware retracted.

Trim saws 764 then are lowered and the trolley carrying them passed hackand forth across the work, trimming off the `adjacent edges of the mats.The trim from the upper saws yfalls into trough S56 and is conductedback to felter 60 viav spout 852. The trim from the lower saws may becaught in a pit beneath the apparatus and carried back to the felter bya conveyor not illustrated.

The trim saws then are retracted, the deelde plates raised, and the workadvanced to the next succeeding stations. The work in the prepress thenis advanced to the outfeed jump conveyor 72 which loads it into pressloader conveyor 74 preliminary to its final consolidation in a hotpress.

Operation 1 The overall operation of the `herein described mat handlingapparatus is as follows:

Assuming that the infeed jump conveyor 64 is in the elevated positionillustrated in FlG. l,.a first work unit which may comprise alignocellulose ymat resting on a metal caul plate is ejected from a highcapacity felter 60 and placed on the lower unit of the infeed jumpconveyor. There it is located precisely by the operation of impeller62..

The jump conveyor then is indexed downwardly to its dotted line positionand the work unit transferred to edge press 66. While this is occurringa second work unit is ejected from felter 60 onto the upper deck of thejump conveyor.

The jumpv conveyor then is indexed upwardly until v.

the upper level thereof registers with the upper level of edge press 66so that the work unit may be'transferred thereto. The jump conveyor thusshuttles back and forth between its raised and lowered positions,receiving work uni-ts from felter 60v and delivering them alternately tothe upper and lower levels of the edge press.

After Vthe first work unit has had its leading edge consolidated in edgepress `66, it is transferred to prepress 68. A following work unitthereupon is located on edge press 66. The balance of the first unit isconsolidated in the prepress while the leading edge of the followingunit is pressed in theedge press. While the two work units are confinedin the prepress and edge press respectively, trim saws 7i! trim off thetrailing edge of the-first unit and the leading edge of the followingunit.V

4Outfeed jump conveyor '/'2v is indexed to its down position and thefirst work unit drawn into it. While the next work unit is following thefirst into prepress 68, the outfeed jump conveyor is indexed to itsraised full line position whereupon the first work unit is transferredfrom the outfeed jump conveyor into the press loader conveyor whence itpasses to a hot pressV for final consolidation.

While the foregoing sequence is occurring, a similar sequence isoccurring in the upper decks of the various units of the lapparatus withthe result that the stream of work units emanating from felter 60 isdivided into two lines by infeed jump conveyor 64 and, after prepressingand trimming, the two lines are re-united in .a single line by outfeedjump conveyor 72 which delivers them to the press loader conveyor.

The sequence thus is repeated continuously to provide a rapid andeffective procedure for handling compactable mats. This procedure hasthe advantages of providing prepressed mats which are self-sustainingand may be handled without danger of breakage in subsequent operations.Furthermore, the leading edges, trailing edges and side edges of themats all are sharply defined and uniform so that consolidated productsmade therefrom likewise will have sharply defined uniform edges.

Since a trimming operation is carried out on the mats before theirconsolidation, the unused trim may be collected and recycled withoutloss for fabrication into further mats. This is not possible if the matsare trimmed after hot pressing, and eifectuates a substantial saving ofraw material.

Since the leading edges of the mats are prepressed in an edge press in apreliminary operation, the mats may be introduced into the prepress withlittle danger of pieces of material working under the caul plates andhence with little danger of denting the latter upon operation of theprepress. Also, the apparatus is versatile and adaptable to handlingmats of varying length, width and thickness, produced by a felter orother apparatus of high capacity.

it is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A deckle assembly comprising a support, a pair of spaced, verticalparallel plates, vertically arranged hinge means on the plates forpivotally mountingy one end of the plates, mounting means slidablyengaging lthe hinge means and secured to the support for mounting theplates for movement in a vertical plane, drive means interconnecting themounting means and the plates for reciprocating the latter in a verticalplane, and drive means interconnecting the support and the plates forreciprocating the latter angularly in a horizontal plane about the hingemeans.

2. A deckle assembly comprising a frame, a deckle plate, a rotatablymounted shaft, crank means interconnecting the shaft and the frame ofthe assembly, a bar pivotally connected to the crank means and extendingsubstantially parallel to the shaft, a second shaft rotatably 14 mountedon the bar and lying substantially parallel thereto, plunger meansslidably mounted on the bar transversely thereof, crank means connectingone end of the plunger means to the second shaft, means for connectingthe other end of the plunger means to the deckle plate, a fluid operatedcylinder mounted on the bar, crank means interconnecting the cylinderand the second shaft for rotating the same, thereby moving the deckleplate in a horizontal plane, a second cylinder mounted on the bar, andcrank means interconnecting the cylinder and the first shaft forrotating the same, thereby reciprocating the deckle plate in a verticalplane.

3. A deelde assembly comprising a deckle plate; a frame supporting thedeckle plate and including a cam plate fixed at right angles to thedeckle plate and provided with a downwardly arcuate guideway terminatingin a horizontal recess, a cam follower mounted in the: guideway, avertical shaft connected to the clam follower, a sleeve mounting theshaft for reciprocation therein, a horizontal shaft pivotally mountingthe sleeve, means for connecting the deckle plate to the vertical shaft,and drive means connected pivotally to the cam follower forreciprocating it in the guideway, thereby moving the deckle platethrough a path which extends from its operative vertical positionupwardly and thence arcuately outward to its retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS GreatBritain July 17, 1957

